Commentaries of the Four Authorized Vaisnava Sampradayas

The binding nature of tamas or mode of ignorance and its characteristics
are now stated by Lord Krishna. The word tamas means darkness and is arises
from that part of prakriti or the material substratum that pervades
physical existence, that possesses the power of mohanam being that which
deludes into illusion, concealing the true perception. This power has the
ability to confound and bewilder all jivas or embodied beings. Hence tamas
binds imperiously the jivas through pramada or madness, alasya or indolence
and nidrabhis or sleep. Pramada can also includes listlessness and mental
fragmentation. Alasya can also include laziness and dullness and nidrabhis
can also include inaction of the mind due to inebriation or exhaustion.

Brahma Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Madhvacarya

Madhvacarya's Commentary

That by which one becomes obscure is called born of ajnana or non-
awareness. This is what is indicated by the words alasya or indolence and
nibhadhnati or iertia.

Sri Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Ramanuja

Ramanuja's Commentary

Lord Krishna describes the word ajnana meaning ignorance which is the
antithesis of wisdom. The word jnana meaning knowledge is the precise,
accurate perception whereas ajnana is the perverted, inaccurate perception.
The word tamas means darkness denoting the darkness of ignorance and is
diametrically opposite to the light of knowledge. The word mohanam is that
which deludes into illusion and the darkness of ignorance. This tamas is
also the cause of pramada or madness and listlessness which is the
inability to focus having a fragmented attention span. It is also the cause
of alasya or indolence slothlike laziness which is the inability to
properly execute any endeavor properly and nidrabhih or sleep is the
disinclination of the senses to function terminating all activities. All
these things nibadhanti or binds one to the material existence without
reprieve.The sublation of the external senses constitutes the dream
state;but when the mind is also sublated then the dream state becomes
sleep.

Kumara Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Nimbaditya

Kesava Kasmiri's Commentary

Now Lord Krishna defines tama guna or the mode of ignorance. The word tamas
means darkness and is typified by nescience and inertia. It is subject to
the greatest delusion that imagines a permanent and pleasant experience in
a temporary and unpleasant existence. Those humans that look upon
themselves as being their physical body like the animals do and who accept
their physical body as being all that they are all hopelessly situated in
ajnana or absence of knowledge which is the antithesis of jnana or wisdom.
Jnana is the accurate precise understanding whereas ajnana is the
inaccurate perverted understanding. The inaccurate perverted understanding
binds the jiva or embodied being through pramada or madness which includes
listlessness and bewilderment, alasya or indolence which includes
sluggishness and laziness and nidrbhis or sleep which includes inebriation.
Sleep is the cessation of bodily organs arising from mental and physical
exhaustion. All of these are permanently situated in tama guna and invoking
ignorance tightly bind the jiva.